Tiny Figures

I think that all of you (or at least most of you) know that I started letting the girls walk to school this month. This was such a leap of faith for me. But when Z, very out-of-the-blue one day, asked when they could start walking to school, I decided there was no time like the present.

You have to understand that just a few short months ago, I couldn't imagine this. They seemed so young to me and the world so huge. There was a story circulating about a young boy who was followed by a man (most certainly up to no good) and ran to his school and straight to the office. Flyers were circulated, warning all of us local parents to be extra cautious. I remember forwarding the email to my friends, saying my children would never walk to school.

I also remember having a conversation with my friend Mary, who's children have been walking to and from school for years. She seemed more than a little perturbed, as she told me that she had taken a statistics class and that the chance of someone nabbing a child was less than them being struck by lightening. Still, as Soprano Spinner says, I didn't want to be that mommy on the news.

I started to really think about this more when we moved so close to the school. Truthfully, it helps that I knew there would be no major streets to cross and that our street seemed filled with other families, probably similar to ours. I replayed Mary's words in my head...based in statistics, not emotions (which I am full of).

Even more than these factors, I started to ask myself to have a little faith. Faith in God, of course, to keep them safe. But honestly, if God decided to take one or both of my children from me in some heinous way, faith would be cold comfort. I put my faith in technology...Z has a cell phone, she can call me if there are any problems along the way and let me know when they've arrived. I put my faith in the kids, that I have taught them about stranger awareness and that to return a friendly "Good morning" is different than getting into a car.

In the end, faith played a very little part in my decision. I think I just held my breath and did it. It's not easy for me. On the days that they walk, I watch them walk all the way down our street to the corner. When they turn the corner, I can't see them anymore. I go upstairs, clutching my cell phone the whole time, dress for work, think about my meetings for the day, the laundry I have to do, the errands I have to run. I glance at my cell phone many times and check the time. 8:02am...don't call, give Z a chance to be responsible and call you. 8:07...wait for it, wait for it. 8:10...the phone rings and I say "yay" out loud..."Hi baby, are you there?"...."yes mommy, we're here"...."Have a good day, I love you, good job!".

Then I say a silent prayer of thanks and say to the mommy..."good job".